新西兰英语 262 Ex-head of Immigration is sentenced

　　Mary Anne Thompson, the ex-head of Immigration New Zealand, was sentenced in the High Court today. She was given a fine of $10,000 and has to do 100 hours community service.
She claimed on her CV that she had a PhD from the London School of Economics¹ but in fact she did not finish her degree. For the last 20 years she has had very good jobs because people thought she had a PhD. She worked for the Ministry² of Maori Affairs and then for the Prime Minister’s office. After that, she was the head of Immigration.
She pleaded³ guilty in February to making a false claim. The judge said that in fact she had always done a good job.
Now she will have difficulty getting work again. She is only 54 years old.
Listen to May 19th 2008 for more about this matter.

1 economics   

n.经济学，经济情况

参考例句：

• He is studying economics,which subject is very important.他正在学习经济学，该学科是很重要的。
• One can't separate politics from economics.不能把政治与经济割裂开来。

2 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

3 pleaded   

恳求，请求( plead的过去式和过去分词 )； 提出…为借口[理由]； （向法庭）陈述案情； （在法庭）申辩，认罪，辩护

参考例句：

• She pleaded with him not to go. 她恳求他不要离开。
• She wept and pleaded until he agreed to do as she wished. 她哭着恳求他，一直到他答应按她的愿望去做。